Program Overview

Program Overview

The Program in Occupational Therapy at Washington University in St. Louis is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education of the American Occupational Therapy Association. The Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (OTD) is designed for students who want to assume a leadership position in practice, management, teaching, and/or clinical research.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree or be a participant in an approved 3-2 program, and they must have completed prerequisite courses from an accredited college or university.

Program Structure

The OTD degree program is a 36-month, full-time program that includes:

• Six months of full-time fieldwork supervised by experienced clinicians
• A focus on the student's specialty area
• Completion of the 14-week doctoral capstone
• A total of 106 credit units over a three-year period

Concentrations

Doctoral students may choose from multiple concentrations, including:

• Productive aging
• Social participation and the environment
• Children and youth
• Work and industry
• Neurorehabilitation
• Rehabilitation science

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the OTD program will be eligible to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examination to become practicing occupational therapists. However, a felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT exam or to attain state licensure.

Program Outcomes

Doctoral students will:

• Develop an advanced-practice skill set
• Acquire in-depth knowledge in their practice areas
• Learn to analyze the role of occupational therapy across the service delivery continuum for individuals, groups, and populations
• Design an occupational therapy model for a specific client population
• Participate in scholarly work and develop capacity as change agents in professional practice.